Music Appreciation
Related: About this forum10 Days -- 10 great live performances Elvis Costello
This is the performance that got Elvis Costello and The Attractions banned from Saturday Night Live for nearly a dozen years.
Apparently, the record company wanted Costello to promote his new album by doing the single the Co. was pushing.
Costello thought the references to Oswald Mosley were too historical and obscure for an American audience, and in the spirit of punk rebellion, he stopped the song after a few bars and went right into "Radio, Radio" . . . with all its sardonic references to media manipulation and corporate control of the airwaves.
SNL Producer Lorne Michaels, notoriously opposed to any kind of spontaneity on his "live" show, was afraid the song would run long etc. and went ballistic, reportedly giving Costello the finger while the performance was on-going.
I remember seeing this on TV in a college dorm, and we all were just floored--"was this part of an act?" We didn't know, but the song came across with an extra "edge," as Costello was clearly making a statement against some kind of imposed constraint.
Here's a video of the event. Because of copywrite laws, you can't find the performance in its original form on YouTube, but this version still conveys the "in your face" feel.
TexasBushwhacker
(20,205 posts)considering the first song "Less Than Zero" didn't chart and Radio Radio" did quite well.
Mr.Mystery
(185 posts)but it put Elvis Costello on the radar of American music fans.
TexasBushwhacker
(20,205 posts)I was in college 76 to 81. So much great music during that time and so many of them are STILL making great music!